Olympia tallied four runs in the top of the first inning and did not trail. The big hits were Taylor Wilkins’ double that drove in the first run and Taylor Davis’ two-run single that made it 4-0.

Even though the four-run deficit seemed like a lot against the reigning league champs, the Hawks were not about to cave in. They answered with two runs to stay close.

Emily Heiser singled with one out and Bachtold powered a two-base hit to right field to put runners on second and third.

Sabin Brummitt reached on a throwing error as Heiser and Bachtold scored to make it 4-2. Jenna Hale reached on a high-chop single but the inning ended when Brummitt was thrown out at home while trying to score on the play.

Cassie Somers, who was behind the plate because of a finger injury to regular backstop Jackie Duffy, singled to lead off the second. Jordyn Weber got on with a fielder’s choice but was caught off first base on a pop up for a double play to end the inning.

Bachtold didn’t really struggle but Olympia was able to get to her in the fourth and fifth innings. The Spartans sent seven batters to the plate in the fourth and scored a run. They added two more markers in the fifth.

“Brooke wasn’t sharp, she knows it,” PC head coach Luke Krippel said. “She doesn’t have the stuff to strike out 10, she has to hit her spots. She hung in there and battled.”

It didn’t help that there was little offensive support. In fact, after the second inning, there was no offensive support.

Olympia hurler Ali Haesle found a groove after the second stanza. She set down the last 16 batters she faced. For the game, Haesle had seven strikeouts and allowed just four hits and no walks.

Bachtold gave up seven runs on 13 hits and three walks. She set down three Spartans on strikes.

“We made some plays, but there were a few little things,” Krippel said. “I think we’ll get there, we’re just not there yet.”

Page 2 of 2 - Bachtold had a double while Heiser, Hale and Somers singled for the Hawks.

Haesle had three hits for Olympia. Wilkins, Davis and Klair Hartzold contributed two hits apiece.

Prairie Central will be on the road Thursday with a Corn Belt Conference contest at Pontiac.